The vast majority of Sacred Heart Primary School students in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy don’t speak English as a first language and don’t own a computer.
But staff are determined that no student should be left behind in the pandemic restrictions.
Sitting in the corner of an empty classroom, teacher Amelia Burnie sits behind a laptop making animal shapes with her hands as she sings a nursery rhyme.
Ms Burnie teaches half her class in a morning session and the other half in an afternoon session, giving the students independent learning activities to complete in the interim.
She says given the diversity of languages spoken by her children, face-to-face learning in smaller groups was essential.
Amelia Burnie teaching online at Sacred Heart Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
It’s a unique set up, she says, for a very unique bunch of kids.
“They speak Vietnamese at home, some of them might speak Arabic. If they’re from South Sudanese background they might speak Dinka. I also have some little boys from Chile who speak Spanish and teach me Spanish, which is gorgeous.”
Sacred Heart has about 150 students, 95 per cent of which have English as an additional language and who nearly all live in the nearby public housing estate.
Ms Burnie says the online lessons are essential to keeping the children engaged in learning, and also connected with each other during isolation.
Amelia Burnie teaching students online at Sacred Heart Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
“They play hide and seek, on their cameras. They say ‘Can you see me?’, ‘Are you hiding behind the chair?’, ‘Oh you found me’ - things like that, which is just beautiful.”
Five-year old Kondial doesn’t have internet at home as yet, so five days a week his mother brings him to Sacred Heart’s computer room and sits with him while he does his lesson.
His first language is Nuer, from his South Sudanese heritage, but he also speaks English and is becoming fluent in the universal language of maths.
It's something that’ll come in useful in his future career.
“I want to work on a computer and make a train and a bus and a station,” he said.
Mum Nyatoang Pinyien came to Australia in 2006. She says remote learning has been a challenge, but she’s determined to overcome the language barrier for her son.
Student Kondial, mum Nyatoang PinYien and sister Nyapuot watch a remote learning class Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
“If he’s going to be an intelligent boy I have to work hard for him and give him the best I can.”
Access to technology was a major obstacle at Sacred Heart because 85 per cent of students do not own a computer.
Before the end of term one, the school distributed its own iPads and laptops to families to ensure each child had access to a device and this week, with the help of Bendigo Bank and The Smith Family, they’re giving out portable wifi packs.
School Principal Matthew Shawcross says given the high levels of vulnerability of its student population, the school began planning early for remote learning.
Now he says their average attendance rate is almost perfect at 97 per cent.
Sacred Heart Principal Matthew Shawcross Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
“The children themselves are actually loving it. They’ll often say on a Friday can we do this again tomorrow, you know on a Saturday. Our children are very very sociable.”
One of those is grade six student and school captain, 11-year old Melissa Lin.
She’s preparing for high school next year, but Melissa is already planning several steps ahead.
“I know I want to finish my education and go to university and stuff, and then I think I might want to be an actor.”
Melissa does her lessons in her bedroom on a laptop borrowed from school.
Her housing commission flat doesn't have internet so she’s also borrowed a portable wifi device.
Melissa Lin taking online class from home Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
Next door, her mum Liu Juan Li is also studying, learning English with the hopes of getting a job when Melissa goes to high school.
She arrived in Australia from China in the 1990’s and says the support of teachers during this period of home learning has been crucial for them.
“The teacher very kind and check up every day to ask if everything happens.”
Student Melissa Lin and mum Liu Juan Li Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
Students at risk
The Federal Government is eager for schools to reopen.
Last week Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan accused Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews of lacking leadership by keeping schools closed.
He was referring to a government-commissioned report from the Rapid Research Information Forum, chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel, that suggested learning outcomes could be compromised if schools remain closed.
The report found that remote learning has the "potential to result in poorer educational outcomes for almost half of students should it continue for an extended period" and that "students at particular risk of poorer learning outcomes include those from low socioeconomic backgrounds and those with English as a second language".
Federal member for Melbourne Adam Bandt says that means some schools need more support, not an early return to the classroom.
Murals celebrating diversity at Sacred Heart Source: SBS/Abby Dinham
“The answer is to give them more support. Its lazy option is to say, 'well let’s just open schools earlier'. We should only open schools when it’s safe. And while the schools are closed on the basis of health advice, the government should use reports like that to give a bit of extra support.”
Given its diversity, Sacred Heart should be one of those school whose students are falling behind during remote learning, but its principal Mr Shawcross says he’s confident that not only are their kids keeping up, but they’re thriving in the online learning environment.
“The attention to detail and individual support they’re getting is actually even better than what they’re getting at school. It’s like a one to seven one to eight ratio of teacher to children.”
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store. SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments.
